Cattle Breeds Research Articles

Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and Animal Owners' Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Towards the Disease in Selected Districts of East Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) is one of the most important diseases affecting production and productivity. Cross-sectional study was aimed at to determine the seroprevalence of IBR and associated risk factors, and animal owners' knowledge, attitude and practice towards the disease from April 2021 to June 2022. Accordingly, a total of 384 serum samples were collected from both crossbreed (70) and local breed (314) cattle from purposively selected districts of East Wollega zone of Western Ethiopia. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for testing glycoprotein antibodies (anti-gB) for bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-1) virus in collected serum, and the obtained data were analysed by multiple logistic regressions by using R software 3.62 version. However, questionnaire data were analysed for descriptive statistics by SPSS version 20.0 (IBM. Corp, 2011). The total prevalence of IBR in the study area was found to be 70.54% at herd and 80.47% at individual cattle level. The significant association (p ) was found for breed, age, body condition and herd size but not for district and sex as risk factors. The BoHV-1 virus seropositivity in adult animals increased significantly, with an odds ratio of 1.65 (95% CI 0.705-3.85) compared to young. Local breed cattle were 2.055 times more likely to test positive for IBR with an odds ratio of 0.77 (95% CI 0.23-2.22) compared to crossbreed cattle. The chances of cattle in medium herds testing positive for the BoHV-1 virus with an odds ratio of (1.78 95% CI 1.303-7.50) are greater than the chances of cattle in smaller herds testing positive. The survey results showed that 70% of animal owners identified IBR as a major challenge in animal production, whereas 35% mentioned long calving intervals. However, 92% of the participants were not informed about the level of knowledge and attitude regarding particular diseases such as IBR. This study showed that there is a high prevalence of IBR in cattle in the study area, and that owners have low awareness of the disease. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an immediate control system and conduct additional research on molecular detection to evaluate its effects on reproductive performance.

Genetic spatialization in Montana cattle breed.

Brazil is among the world's top beef producers and exporters, and the Montana breed of livestock has gained popularity due to its exceptional meat quality and ability to adapt to the tropical climate. This differentiates it from other breeds, such as the Zebu and Taurine. A methodology that mapped sixteen farms across five Brazilian states was adopted to investigate the link between SNP genetic data and animal collection location. The data was georeferenced using the Geographic Information System and the ArcGIS 10.3 software, considering a geographic coordinate system and the WGS 84 datum. The Alleles in Space (AIS) software was used to study the relationship between the SNP genetic data and the animal collection location. Various analyses were conducted, including the Mantel correlation, genetic barrier identification, and spatial autocorrelation. The results suggest that there is a correlation between genetic and geographical distances, supporting the idea that geographical distance can affect genetic diversity. This information is vital to understand the genetic structure of populations concerning geographical space and is crucial for optimizing Brazilian agricultural production.

Evaluating single and double doses of prostaglandin (PGF 2α ) injection on estrus induction and conception rate in Boran cattle breed in Southwestern Ethiopia

Evaluating single and double doses of prostaglandin (PGF _2α ) injection on estrus induction and conception rate in Boran cattle breed in Southwestern Ethiopia

Chronic heat stress upregulates pyruvate metabolic process and gluconeogenesis but downregulates immune responses in Sahiwal cattle.

Climate change and growing population and their strain on animal production are the impending challenges that the developing countries, like India, need to tackle in the coming days. This study aimed to detect and analyze the uncharacterized variation in the gene expression patterns with the change of condition, from thermoneutral to chronic hot-humid, in the Sahiwal cattle, one of the best breeds of milk-producing cattle in India, known for being heat-tolerant. Using RNA-Seq analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), 4021 differentially expressed mRNAs (2772 upregulated, 1249 downregulated) and 1303 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (769 upregulated, 534 downregulated) were identified, with the thresholds of false discovery rate < 0.05 and|log2(fold change)| > 2. Significantly (p-adjusted < 0.05) overrepresented Gene Ontology (GO) terms, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Reactome pathways were analyzed, revealing upregulation of processes like pyruvate metabolic process, gluconeogenesis, ion transmembrane transport, neuropeptide signaling pathway, and animal organ development, with genes like SHH, GRK1, CHRM3, CAMK2A, and HSPB7 were upregulated, while translation and immune responses, with genes like RPS3, EEF1A1, TNF, BoLA-DRB3, and UBB were downregulated. Analysis of cis-mRNAs of DE-lncRNAs showed presence of both up- and down-regulated cis-mRNAs for both up- and down-regulated lncRNAs indicating existence of positive and negative regulation of mRNA expression by lncRNAs. Managemental nudges that decrease metabolic heat generation, like betaine and chromium supplementation, and increase heat dissipation, like microenvironment cooling, should be utilized. This study highlights the role of pyruvate metabolism and gluconeogenesis in coping up with heat stress and offers an improved understanding of the heat stress response of Sahiwal cattle along with the genes and pathways responsible for it.

Development of a 17-plex STR typing system for the identification of individuals and parentage testing in cattle

Accurate identification of animals and the verification of their parentage can be used to pedigree populations and support selective breeding. The International Society for Animal Genetics recommended 16 cattle STRs for individual identification and parentage testing in cattle, but no multiplex STR typing system contains these 16 STRs. Here, we develop an efficient 17-plex multiplex typing system for cattle that contains the 16 ISAG recommend STRs and a sex-determining marker. Compared to the Bovine Parenting Typing Kit (containing 11 of the 16 ISAG recommend STRs), our new typing system not only increases the number of molecular markers, but also simplifies the PCR operation and shortens the time for the typing procedure (from 4.5 h to 1 h 37 min). Profile can be generated from a single PCR reaction using as little as 1 ng of DNA. The combined probabilities of paternity exclusion CPEduo and CPEtrio were 0.999804697 and 0.999999260, respectively. These results indicate that our 17-plex typing system is a fast, sensitive and species-specific method for the identification of individuals and their parentage for cattle. The application of this system will improve the efficiency of the identification of cattle individuals and their paternity, supporting population genetic research and the selective breeding of cattle.

A Comparative Analysis of Milk Oligosaccharides via LC-MS: Globally Distributed Cattle Breeds and Native Northern Finncattle

Milk oligosaccharides are complex carbohydrates composed of various monosaccharide units linked together by glycosidic bonds. They play an essential role in promoting gut health by fostering beneficial bacteria, supporting the development of the immune system, and protecting against infections and diseases. This work compared the oligosaccharide profiles in widely utilized breeds such as Holstein and Ayrshire (Nordic Red), with the native Northern Finncattle, which is considered an endangered breed. Oligosaccharides were extracted from milk and analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The composition and relative abundance of the identified oligosaccharides were characterized and compared. The statistical analyses showed that neutral, sialylated, and fucosylated oligosaccharides vary among the breeds. Ayrshire and Northern Finncattle oligosaccharides formed a cluster, while Holstein’s profile shared features with both Ayrshire and Northern Finncattle. Holstein had the lowest abundance of fucosylated OS among the three breeds, with Ayrshire having the highest content followed by Northern Finncattle. The relatively higher sialylated over neutral content of Northern Finncattle is an important feature that should be preserved. Ayrshire is a good candidate to recover more diverse oligosaccharides with potential gut health implications for consumers.

Genomic Insights and Conservation Priorities for Kongshan Cattle: A Whole-Genome Resequencing Approach

Kongshan Cattle, indigenous to Sichuan Province and recognized as China’s 56th local cattle breed in 2024, exhibit unique adaptations including superior resistance to harsh conditions. Despite a declining population due to the influx of foreign breeds, there is a significant focus on preserving their genetic diversity through advanced genomic techniques. This study utilized whole-genome resequencing, a cost-effective and information-rich method, to perform a comprehensive genetic assessment of the Kongshan Cattle. High-quality resequencing data yielded an average of 17.5 billion clean bases per sample, with high proportions of Q20 and Q30 bases and a balanced GC content. SNP analysis revealed an average of 14 million SNPs per sample, with a notable transition-to-transversion ratio and a significant portion of heterozygosity. Further analysis of genomic and coding regions identified substantial insertions and deletions, particularly in coding sequences affecting gene functionality. A detailed examination of these genetic variations highlighted genes, including NEIL2 and PNKP, which are integral to stress resistance pathways, indicating potential adaptive advantages. This study not only underscores the genetic diversity of Kongshan Cattle but also contributes to broader efforts in germplasm conservation.

Study on the Carcass Traits, Meat Quality, and Nutritional Attributes of Six Kinds of Jiangxi Local Breeds Cattle

The purpose of this study is to explore the carcass traits, meat quality, and nutritional attributes of local yellow cattle (Guangfeng, Ji’an, and Jinjiang) and buffalo (Poyanghu, Xiajiang, and Xinfeng mountain) in Jiangxi Province, and compare the differences among different breeds. The results showed that the dressing percentage, net meat percentage, and meat–bone ratio of Jinjiang cattle were highest, and that Jinjiang cattle had the best meat production performance. Regarding meat quality, the pH24h value of all breeds was at normal level, and no dark-cutting beef was produced. Poyanghu buffalo and Xinfeng mountain buffalo had higher redness (a*) values, and Guangfeng cattle had the best water retention and tenderness. The intermuscular fat of yellow cattle breeds was higher than that of buffalo breeds; Poyanghu buffalo had the highest crude protein content. The composition of amino acids and fatty acids was different among breeds, and the composition of Jiangxi breeds was healthy. The muscle fibers of buffalo breeds are generally smaller and denser than those of yellow cattle breeds. The MyHC-Ⅰ, MyHC-Ⅱa, and MyHC-Ⅱx were the main types of muscle fibers of Jiangxi local breeds, and the proportion varied with different breeds. This work elucidated the carcass characteristics, meat quality, and nutritional attributes of Jiangxi breed cattle to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the development of beef cattle industry.

Serological evidence of tick-borne Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Dugbe orthonairovirus infections in cattle in Kwara State in northern Nigeria indicate independent endemics.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever orthonairovirus (CCHFV) and Dugbe orthonairovirus (DUGV) are zoonotic viruses transmitted by ticks. Whereas CCHFV has caused numerous human cases, DUGV, although less reported, shares ticks and ruminants as hosts. Since its first discovery in Nigeria in 1964, there has been no detailed sero-epidemiological investigation on DUGV in sub-Saharan Africa. This study is aimed at assessing the current seroprevalence and associated risk factors of CCHFV and DUGV infections in Nigerian cattle. Using a cross-sectional design with random sampling method, blood samples were collected from 877 cattle on pastoralist farms and at abattoirs in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria. CCHFV IgG antibodies were detected in extracted sera using three panels of in-house indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on bacteria-expressed recombinant nucleoprotein (rNP), the cattle-adapted VectoCrimean ELISA and the ID Screen CCHF double antigen multi-species ELISA, while DUGV IgG antibodies were detected using in-house indirect ELISA with bacteria-expressed rNP, indirect immunofluorescence assay and micro-Virus Neutralization test. Overall seroprevalence rates of 71.9% (631/877) and 52.8% (451/854) were obtained for CCHFV and DUGV, respectively. It was observed that 37.9% (314/829) of the cattle were co-exposed to both CCHFV and DUGV while 34.5% (286/829), 14.8% (123/829) and 12.8% (106/829) were exposed to single infections with CCHFV, DUGV or none of the two viruses, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that only location, sex, age and tick infestation score were the risk factors that significantly affected CCHFV seroprevalence in cattle, while DUGV seroprevalence was significantly influenced by month of the year, location, cattle breed and sex (p<0.05). This is the first comprehensive sero-epidemiological surveillance for DUGV in sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings reveal widely distributed independent CCHFV and DUGV infections in cattle in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Insights into trait-association of selection signatures and adaptive eQTL in indigenous African cattle

BackgroundAfrican cattle represent a unique resource of genetic diversity in response to adaptation to numerous environmental challenges. Characterising the genetic landscape of indigenous African cattle and identifying genomic regions and genes of functional importance can contribute to targeted breeding and tackle the loss of genetic diversity. However, pinpointing the adaptive variant and determining underlying functional mechanisms of adaptation remains challenging.ResultsIn this study, we use selection signatures from whole-genome sequence data of eight indigenous African cattle breeds in combination with gene expression and quantitative trait loci (QTL) databases to characterise genomic targets of artificial selection and environmental adaptation and to identify the underlying functional candidate genes. In general, the trait-association analyses of selection signatures suggest the innate and adaptive immune system and production traits as important selection targets. For example, a large genomic region, with selection signatures identified for all breeds except N’Dama, was located on BTA27, including multiple defensin DEFB coding-genes. Out of 22 analysed tissues, genes under putative selection were significantly enriched for those overexpressed in adipose tissue, blood, lung, testis and uterus. Our results further suggest that cis-eQTL are themselves selection targets; for most tissues, we found a positive correlation between allele frequency differences and cis-eQTL effect size, suggesting that positive selection acts directly on regulatory variants.ConclusionsBy combining selection signatures with information on gene expression and QTL, we were able to reveal compelling candidate selection targets that did not stand out from selection signature results alone (e.g. GIMAP8 for tick resistance and NDUFS3 for heat adaptation). Insights from this study will help to inform breeding and maintain diversity of locally adapted, and hence important, breeds.

Assessing the Genetic Diversity of Five Cattle Breeds Using SNP Markers Associated with Health

Currently genetic evaluation of animals is an important part of the development of the agricultural complex. The improvement of molecular technologies every year makes it possible to carry out genetic research aimed at finding the most valuable animals in a cheaper and faster way. Indigenous breeds of cattle are an attractive object for such research because they have greater adaptive potential and resistance to diseases. However, modern comparative data on the genetic diversity of most local breeds based on SNP markers associated with health are lacking. Genetic association tests using these genetic markers for the Tagil, Sychevskaya, Suksun and Istobenskaya breeds are still to be carried out. The purpose of this work was to compare the genetic diversity of five cattle breeds using SNP markers associated with the development of ketosis, mastitis and productive longevity.

Detection of replication-competent circular single stranded DNA from Deoni cattle

Bovine meat and milk factors (BMMF) having structural similarity to plasmids of Acinetobacter baumanni and some single stranded (ss) DNA viruses are free circulating replication-competent circular ssDNA molecules which were first isolated from serum of Bos taurus animals. Isolation of BMMF from tissues of multiple sclerosis as well as some cancers led researchers to conclude that the consumption of these agents through milk and meat have a positive correlation with these diseases and that the absence of such molecules in B. indicus animals could account to the low occurrence of cancer in those areas consuming products of indigenous animals. Hence, the present study was designed to investigate its presence in Deoni, one of the indigenous cattle breeds of India. The DNA isolated from milk samples were subjected to rolling circle amplification (RCA) using exo-resistant random primers. The products of RCA were then used as template for PCR for amplification of circular DNA. The amplicons obtained of size around 2000bp were cloned in E. coli and sequenced. The BLASTn, multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences were carried out to identify the similarities of these isolates. The sequence showed maximum homology with either BMMF2 or plasmids of Acinetobactor spp. Replication initiation protein (Rep) which showed similarity to bacterial plasmids was present in the sequence. This is the pioneer report on the presence of BMMF in milk of indigenous cattle of India. Keywords: BMMF, replication-competent, circular ssDNA, Deoni

Comparative Genetic Study of Local and Introduced Cattle Breeds of Khizi District of Azerbaijan Republic

A comparative genetic study of local and introduced breeds of cattle in the farms of the Khizi district was carried out. Cattle of various breeds are kept on the territory of the region at enterprises of legal entities and individuals, in farms belonging to individual owners. Introduced breeds of cattle, beef and dairy cattle make up 0.0029% of the total livestock. Simmental (25%), Holstein-Frisian (27%), Brown Swiss (12%) and Aberdeen-Angus (7%) breeds are derived from introduced beef and dairy cattle. For a comparative study of the genomes of local and introduced breeds of cattle, blood samples were taken, DNA was obtained and prepared for further analysis.

Impacts of Breed, Production System and Feeding Type on Nutritional, Organoleptic Characteristics and Oxidative Status on Beef Cattle in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of breed, production system, and feeding type on meat quality, evaluating organoleptic and physicochemical traits and antioxidant status across selected local cattle breeds. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on sirloin and blood samples taken in slaughterhouses from the hot carcass of male cattle, divided according to breed, production system and type of feed. The nutritional, organoleptic characteristics and oxidative status was assessed. Findings: The results revealed that meat from Goudali breed raised in a sedentary system exhibited significantly lower tenderness (p&lt;.) and higher lipid (p&lt;.) and protein (p&lt;.) contents. Additionally, the meat displayed notably lower pH (p=.), reduced cortisol (p&lt;.), and lower catalase (p&lt;.), TAC (p&lt;.), and FRAP (p=.) activities. Consumers preferred the meat of the White Fulani breed due to its color (p&lt;.). In transhumant system, the meat was richer in dry matter (p=.), lipids (p&lt;.), and fibres (p=.), while the sedentary system resulted in more tender (p=.) and red-dark colored meat (p&lt;.), which consumers favored. Meat from cows under commercial feed were preferred by consumers (p&lt;.) compared to grass-fed cows, exhibiting significantly higher lipid (p&lt;.) and protein (p&lt;.) levels as well as intense color (p=.). However, meat from grass-fed cows had significantly higher fibre content (p&lt;.), tenderness (p&lt;.), better taste (p=.), juiciness (p=.), and higher catalase (p=.) and TAC (p&lt;.) activities. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: These findings underscore the importance of considering breed, production system, and feeding type when conserving, selecting, or improving beef breeds for both meat quantity and quality.

Comparative analysis of production performance, carcase traits, and meat quality in yearling beef of Limousine, Sardo-Bruna, and their crosses

The aim of this study was to compare animal performance and meat quality of a local cattle breed of Sardinia Island with specialised meat purebred or obtained by crossbreeding. For this purpose, 10 Sardo-Bruna (SB; 5 males, 5 females), 10 Limousine (L; 5 males, 5 females) and 10 Limousine × Sardo-Bruna crossbreed (L × SB; 5 males, 5 females) were compared simultaneously from 12 to 20 ± 1 (mean ± SEM) months old. During the trial, body weight (BW) was recorded once a month for estimating the average daily gain (ADG). At slaughter, carcase measurements, pH and colour traits were recorded from the left side of the carcase. Proximate composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, cooking and drip losses were evaluated using the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle. The SB group showed a lower cold carcase yield compared to L and L × SB genetic types. Males had a higher ADG, slaughter weight, hot and cold carcase weights, hot and cold carcase yields, and cooking losses than females. Females group showed a higher intramuscular fat content and rib fat thickness compared to males. No relevant differences among genetic types and between sexes were observed for meat and fat colours and pH. Concerning the FA profile, SB genetic type evidenced a higher oleic acid content and a better nutritional index than other genetic types while males had a higher PUFA content than females. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that the Limousine breed can be effectively used to enhance carcase yield of local breed without effects on meat quality.

Relationship between polymorphism of GDF5 and CAPN1 genes in kalmyk breed cattle with economic and biological traits

The article presents the results of polymorphism of the GDF5 and CAPN1 genes in cattle of the Kalmyk breed, owned by the agricultural production company “Plodovitoe” of the Maloderbetovsky district of the Republic of Kalmykia, in the amount of 60 heads. DNA samples were isolated from whole blood taken from the jugular vein by an automatic extraction method. A real-time polymerase chain reaction was carried out to determine the polymorphism T586C of the GDF5 gene and C316G of the CAPN1 gene. In the studied herd of cattle, animals with the TT genotype predominate - 68.3 % of the population, the number of animals with the TC and CC genotypes is 21.7 % and 10 %. When studying the polymorphism of the CAPN1 gene, it was revealed that 23.3 % of the bulls of the studied population of Kalmyk cattle have the desired genotype CC, while the heterozygous genotype is present in 16.7 %, and the recessive genotype GG is present in 60 % of animals. The frequency of occurrence of the T allele of the GDF5 gene is 0.792, which exceeds the indicator of the C allele (0.208) by 58.2 %, the observed frequency of TT and CC genotypes exceeds the expected indicator by 5.6 and 5.7 %, respectively, while the indicator of the TC genotype is lower than the expected frequency by 11.2 %. The frequency of occurrence of the G allele (0.683) is 36.6 % higher than that of the C allele (0.317) of the CAPN1 gene. It is noted that the GG genotype with an index of 0.600 occurs with the highest frequency, while the CG genotype has a frequency of 0.167 (43.3 % less), the CC genotype – 0.233 (36.7 % less). The indicators of the observed frequency of the CC and GG genotypes are 13.3% higher than expected, the heterozygous genotype has an excess of the expected frequency by 26.6 %. Bulls with the TT genotype of the GDF5 gene outperformed their peers with the TC and CC genotypes in all measurements. When studying the live weight of Kalmyk cattle at the age of 15 months, a positive effect of the CC genotype of the CAPN1 gene was revealed. Thus, the group of animals with this genotype had the largest live weight and surpassed their peers with the genotypes CG (by 9.9 %) and GG (by 11.1 %).

Current state of dairy cattle breeding in the Saratov region

Studies of the state of the dairy cattle breeding industry for the last 5 years in the Saratov region in the context of the average indicators for the same breeds in the Russian Federation and the Volga Federal District showed that the Holstein breed of black-mottled breed surpasses the black-mottled, Simmental, red-mottled, Kostroma breeds. In the Saratov region for the analyzed period there is not a good situation on the black-mottled breed, which stopped breeding in 2021, but the positive dynamics was that in 2021 brought and began to breed the Kostroma breed. In terms of milk production in the Saratov region the black-mottled Holstein breed stands out, its milk yield is 11308.6 kg, black-mottled -7461.3 kg, red-mottled - 6918.8 kg, which exceeds the average figures for the Russian Federation by 2012.4, 163.1, 40.2 kg and the Volga Federal District by 2108.2, 504.3 kg, respectively, but the animals of red-mottled breed are inferior to the Volga Federal District by 877.8 kg. Simmental, red-spotted breeds have high average indicators of fat in comparison with RF and PFD by 0,05;0,14 and 0,11; 0,19 kg and protein by 0,03;0,01 and 0,04; 0,02 %, respectively. Evaluating the live weight indicators of cattle bred in the conditions of Saratov region such breeds as: black-and-breed, Simmental, red-and-breed, Holstein black-andbreed, Kostroma breeds, the maximum live weight in animals of black-and-breed - 565.6 kg and the minimum 450.0 kg - in kostroma breeds. Simmental and black-and-brown breeds surpass with a good enough gap the average indicators of the Russian Federation and the Volga Federal District in terms of live weight by 7.2; 12.2 and 4.4; 20 kg. The number of red-breed, Kostroma, Holstein black-breed animals is inferior to the average data on live weight in the Russian Federation and the Volga Federal District.

Cattle breeding, associations, and rural development: The Italian case study in the 20th century

Cattle breeding, associations, and rural development: The Italian case study in the 20th century

ANALISIS PENGARUH SIKAP PETERNAK TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN BERWIRAUSAHA PENGGEMUKAN DAN PEMBIBITAN SAPI DI KECAMATAN PADEMAWU KABUPATEN PAMEKASAN

Pamekasan Regency has the lowest cattle population in Madura, 194,283 heads. The attitude of farmers who have an important role in the cattle business. This study aims to determine 1) the entrepreneurial characteristics of farmers, 2) the attributes of the dominant attitudes of farmers, and 3) the relationship between the attitudes of farmers and their entrepreneurial abilities in Pademawu District, Pamekasan Regency. The method used is descriptive quantitative, using secondary and primary data from 35 cattle breeders. This study uses a descriptive analysis and multi-attribute Fishbein. The results of this study indicate that 1) the entrepreneurial characteristics of breeders are still common, and their entrepreneurial skills are still low; 2) the dominant attitude of farmers in entrepreneurship is the selling price of farmers, while the attitude that has the lowest rank is maintenance; 3) the relationship between attitudes and abilities in entrepreneurship of breeders is said to be quite close, entrepreneurial attitudes of breeders such as motivation, yield orientation, risk-taking, opportunity utilization and perceptions of livestock business are not dominant attributes, but have a large enough effect. Cattle breeders in Pademawu District need counseling about maintenance risks, financial management, opportunity utilization, yield orientation, and increased motivation.

Short communication: Do veterinary diagnoses coming from electronic recording system of veterinary treatments have the potential to be used for breeding in small populations? The case of the dual-purpose Alpine Grey cattle breed

In cattle breeding, emphasis has historically been placed on productive traits, so-called primary traits, while health and fitness traits have been overlooked due to their low heritability and partly negative genetic correlations with productivity. In addition, the recording of phenotypes caused problems due to a lack of high-quality information and / or high costs of recording. This oversight has additionally led to increased incidences of fertility issues and health problems in cattle populations, resulting in economic losses and consumer concerns regarding animal welfare and food safety. This study investigates the potential use of veterinary diagnoses, collected via the Italian electronic recording system of veterinary treatments, for breeding decisions in the local dual-purpose Alpine Grey cattle breed for which the consideration of functional traits in breeding has also become imperative over the last years. The dataset comprised 97 821 records spanning from 2021 to 2023, representing 8 273 individuals and 18 110 lactations of the Alpine Grey breed. Each record documented the administration of treatments for mammary, respiratory, and urogenital pathologies. After data editing and model development, heritability estimates were obtained for each pathology using univariate linear animal models and gibbs sampling algorithms. Results indicate that mammary pathologies affected the highest number of cows (11%), followed by respiratory (4%) and urogenital (5%) pathologies. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.01 to 0.04 across all traits, confirming generally low heritability values. Respiratory pathologies exhibited the highest heritability (0.04; sd 0.04), followed by mammary (0.03; sd 0.01) and urogenital (0.01; sd 0.01) pathologies. This study, although preliminary, provides valuable insights into the health status of local dual-purpose Alpine Grey cattle and highlights the potential of considering veterinary diagnoses for improving animal health and welfare in dairy cattle breeding. However, the low heritability of these traits, which is consistent with literature data, clearly shows the current limitations of using them for breeding. Further, the diagnostic key of the Italian electronic recording system of veterinary treatments should be specified for the use of health data for breeding purposes, as it is formulated in too general manner in its current form. Nevertheless, their significance for animal welfare and economic sustainability underlines the need for their consideration in dairy cattle breeding. Therefore, further research with larger sample sizes and consideration of additional indicators, such as somatic cell counts, is recommended to enhance the accuracy of genetic evaluations and improve breeding strategies for sustainable cattle production.